Compressor



June 17, 1941.

w. w. wlsHAR-r COMPRESSOR V Filed June 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .y

a Q 5x 1 @mamma/shaft @L June 121941. ww, WISHART 2,246,279

COMPRES SOR Filed June 26. 1935 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 -Patented June 1 7, 1941 'COMPRESSOR I William W. Wishart, Chicago, Ill., assigner- Davidson Manufacturing" Corporation, lll., a corporation of Application June ze, niet, semi No. 28,418

2 claims.

w w My invention relates in general to fluid pressure devices and has more particular reference to a rotary apparatus for use in the compression of fluid work media.'

An'important object of the invention is to provide a uid pressure device having improved means Chicago,

for sealing. the device against uid leakage of the medium being compressed; a further important object being to utilize a lubricant, delivered into the apparatus under pressure greater than that produced in the work medium, in order to seal the de vice against fluid leakage between the high and low pressure sides of the device.

Anotherimportant object is to provide a iluid iiowdevice having facilities for lubricating the operating parts, including an arrangement whereby a medium, used in the lubrication of the operating parts, is applied ina manner to assist in sealing the device against leakage of the fluid between the inlet and outlet sides ofthe device.

Another important object is to utilize a' lubrieating medium at a pressure in excess of that developed in the work medium in order to adequately seal the uid pressure `device and thus maintain it at maximum operating eillciency.

Another important object resides in circulating `a lubricating medium internally and externally of the device and cooling the medium during its axle having the/circumferential opening; to provide a piston carrying shaft with a supported portion eccentric to the piston carrying portion thereof to permit adjustment of the eccentricity of the piston with respect to the rotary axis of the cylinder by merely turning the shaft.

Numerous other objects, advantages, and inherent functions of the invention will be apparent from the following, description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through a compressor embodying my invention, the associated lubricant cooling and forcing equipment being shown diagrammatically.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-'2 in Figure l.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views, on a reduced scale, illustrating the progressive positions yof the parts during the operating' cycle of the machine. v

Figure 6 is an exploded view, in perspective, of parts forming the driving connection between the piston and cylinder.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the shaft on which the piston is carried.

external ow to the end that the medium may function to transfer heat from the pressure device and maintain the same at a lowoperating temperature to promote operating emciency.

Another important object resides in thepro- A vision of means to regulate the pressure at which the lubricating medium is delivered to the pressuredevice for the purpose of lubricating and sealing the same.

Among the other important objects is to jacket the housing of the compressor with a cooling medium to thus assist in maintaining the device at a low operating temperature; to provide one of I the working elements with a blade .rigidly xed thereon and having bearing relationship with the other element in order to form an efficient uid forcing connection betweenthe elements, includ. ing means to deliver lubricant under pressure between the blade and the working element on which it has bearing; to mount the lpiston for rotation on a shaft extending within the cylinder and to deliver the lubricating and sealing medium to the interiorfof the piston through a duct formed in the shaft; to form the cylinder as an annular ring 4held between end plates, at least one of/'which carries an axle by means of which the cylinder may be supported for rotation; to provide an inlet to said cylinder comprising an axial duct in said shaft and. a communicating radial duct in said end plate; to form the axial duct with an opening disposed circumferentially in the axle and to enclose, in a sealed housing, that portion of the r medium from the high pressure or discharge side My invention particularly contemplates thesealing of compression or other fluid flow apparatus in order to prevent the leakage or escape of .the work medium during its travel through the' apparatus from the inlet to the discharge. Leak- ,age of this character is particularly deleterious in rotary compressors, in which loss of efficiency may be occasioned by leakage of the compressed to the low pressure or inlet side. I propose to overcome this diiculty by supplying, at the places where leakage is apt to occur, afluid sealing medium, which may also conveniently provide for lubrication of the operating parts, the sealing niedium being applied under pressure in excess of the high pressure causing the leakage. To provide the foregoing sealing effect, I utilize several novel \.structural arrangements adapted to assistin preventing fluid leakage of the work medium in d'e vices of the character here treated.

The compressor, which I have shown on the drawings to illustrate the various features of my present invention, comprises a pair of co-operating parts, namely, a cylinder element Il and a. piston element I3, which are'mounted for relagages the inner surface of the cylinder along al line lying in a plane common to the axes I1 and I9 and, since the inner diameter of the cylinder is larger than the external diameter of the piston, a crescent-shaped working space 2| is defined between the working parts.

The frame or casing I5, provides a, closed housing in which the cylinder and pi'ston are mounted.

The casing may, of course, have any suitable form or construction but the same preferably comprises a pair of co-operating parts, one of which forms a cup-shaped element having an end wall 23, preferably cylindrical side walls 25, and an integral base 2l. erably comprises a cover 29, the circular edges of which are adapted to engage and fit upon the edges of the cylindrical Walls 25 opposite the end wall 23. The walls 25 and the marginal edge of the cover 29 are preferably formed, as at 3|, with an inter-fitting tongue and groove formation, and

the parts may be secured together in any desired fashion, as ,by means of the studs or bolts 33, in order to form an enclosed casing in which the cylinder and piston I3 are mounted.

The piston is mounted for rotation upon a preferably stationary stub shaft, preferably formed as shown in Figure '1, said stub shaft having a portion 35 carried in a sleeve-like support 31 comprising a part of the end wall 23 of the casing. The shaft portion 35 has an end extending outwardly of the wall 23 and squared or otherwise formed, as at 39, to receive a turning implement by meansvof which the angular position of the shaft 35, within the sleeve-like supporting portion 31, may be adjusted from outside of the casing. 1 To anchor the shaft portion 35 in adjusted position, its outwardly extending portion may be threaded, as at 4I, to receive a holding nut 43.

The stub shaft has a piston-carrying portion 45 formed at the inner end of the portion 35, said portion 45 being preferably cylindrical and projecting withinthe cylinder in position to carry the piston I3. The piston comprises a central sleeve 41 rotatably mounted on the shaft portion 45 by means of anti-friction bearings 49. The

shaft portion 45 thus defines the axis I9 about which the piston rotates.

The other casing part prefaccurately compensatingl for any wear that may occur in the piston and cylinder bearings during operation of the device.

The cylinder means II preferably comprises an annular ring 53 and a pair of end plates 55 and 51, the end plates being clampingly secured in position covering the opposite sides orI ends of the ring 53 in any suitable fashion, preferably by means of studs 59. The endplate 51 yhas a central opening 6I adapted to receive the sleeve-like portion 31 of the frame and said end plate is supported for rotation on the portion 31 ,preferably by means of an anti-friction bearing 53. I also provide a seal for closing the central opening of the end plate preferably outwardly of the bearing 63. The seal comprises a disk 65 secured on the' end plate 51 and having a central opening defining an inner edge 61 having a `running fit upon the sleeve-like portion 31. 'Ihe bearing 63 serves to hold a resilient sealing member 69 against a shoulder 1I formed on Ythe sleeve-like support portion 31, said sealing element` 69 carrying a sealing washer 13 in position to engage the diskv The cylinder carries a biade 15, one edge of which is fitted tightly in a slot 11 formed in the ring 53. The opposite side'edges of the blade engage theopposed inwardly facing surfaces of the end plates 55 and 51, so that the blade is clamped between the end plates and extends ra- I prefer to form the stub shaft so that the l axis I9 is offset a short distance, of the order of a few thousandths of an inch, from the axis 5I of the supported shaft portion 35, so that, by turning the shaft portion 35 in its supporting bearing,

-the axis I9 of the shaft supporting portion 45 may be made to describe a circular path, indidially inwardly of the ring 53. 'I'he cylinder has an inlet 19'comprising an orifice opening on'the inner surface 4,of the ring 53 on one side of the blade 15. The cylinder is also provided with an outlet 8|, comprising a. channel extending preferably through the ring 53 from its inner to its outer surface, said channel opening on the innersurface ofthe ring on'the side of the blade 15 opposite from the inlet 19. I .also preferably provide outwardly opening valve means in the outlet 8|, said valve means comprising a seat 8 3 set in the outlet opening and normally covered bya resilient blade 35, which, together with a guard 81 for limiting the valve opening movement ofthe spring away from the seat 83, is

fastened on a boss 89 formed on the outer surface of the ring 53 in any suitable fashion as by the fastening screws 9|.

v'.llhe piston |.3 comprises an annular portion 93 of a width forming a snug sliding t between the end plates 55 and 51 voi' the cylinder. The marginal edges of this annular portion are preferably flanged as at 95 to provide an adequate blocks |03 and |05, the'at surfaces of which Iare formed toslldingly engage upon the opposed surfaces of the blade 15. The parts are designed to rotate in a .counter-clockwise direction, viewing Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 and it will be seen that, when the cylinder is rotated, the piston will be driven by the interaction of the blade 15 upon andere of the blade, whilethe space,- in communication with the outlet, will'decrease from a maximum to zero. As a result of this' operation, the space behind the blade will become charged with the work medium, which is drawn into the space behind the blade through `the inlet 15 during a complete rotation of the parts. The work'nrcdium thus drawn into the work space will be forced the succeeding 'rotation of the elements. During the loading of the space behind the blade with the work medium at inlet pressure, the work me dium in the work space in front of the blade, which was drawn into the cylinder during the preceding rotation of the elements, will be com- Y out ofthe space from in front of the blade during is the` part of the operating cycle during which the work medium receives its greatest compression. Itwill be noted that the vWork medium is expelled through theoutlet 8| into'the chamber provided by the housing 25. As a result of continued operation of the device, this chamber becomes filled with the work medium at discharge pressure and this chamber, together with the portions of the work space, in which compression is accomplished, constitutes the highside of the machine. The low side of the machine comprises the inlet 19, the inlet ducts communicating therewith, and which will hereinafter be more fully described, as

well as the work space 2| during that portion of the operating cycle when the same contains gases.

at inlet pressures.

Fluid leakage. from the high side, may occur within the cylinder during the compression porltion of the operating cycle, that is to say, when from the working space in front of the blade 15 -ency for the compressed work medium to escape' to the working space behind said blade. The

compressed medium tends to escape around the blade 15, as well as between the ends of the piston and the side plates and 51. .Leakage also tends to occur between the cylindrical surfaces of the piston and cylinder at their point of contact. Leakage between the cylindrical surfaces of the working element at their point of contact is reduced to a minimum by means of the adjustment provided by the piston-supporting shaft.` By this adjustment, thc rolling contact of the piston and cylinder is made absolute so that leakage, at the point of rolling contact, is substantially elimiwherein the outer edge of the bladegis sealingly fitted tightly in the-groove 11. Leakage around the,inner edge of the blade, through the slot Il, is prevented by the fact that the leading block |00 is compressed between the blade 15 and the seat |01 as a result of driving pressure exerted between the blade, the block,'and the seat. Leakage past the trailing block` |05 is prevented by means of a preferably spring-pressed element |01 /comprlsing a blade housed in a socket |05 formed 'in the piston behindthe trailing block |05, in

such a position that an edge of the element |01 presses upon the back of the block |05 and urges its flat surface into snug engagement with the trailing face of the blade 15. The blade |01 is .provided with sockets in its remote edge and springs I3 are mounted in the sockets in position to urge the blade |01 outwardly of the slot |09.

-In addition to the foregoing structural features for preventing fluid leakage from the high side of the compressor, I provideffor introducing in the slot 99, between the contacting surfaces'of the blade and bearing blocks and -also between the contacting end surfaces of the piston and the end plates 55 and 51, a fluid sealing rnediuin,y

yof the end wall 2,3, said duct H5 opening in the journal carrying 'the shaft 35. The inner end of the duct `i I5 communicates with an axial channel ii'i formed in the piston-carrying shaft, said channel |11 in turn opening at the inner end of the shaft portion 45 so that the lubricating and sealing medium, introduced through the duct H45,

may escape at the inner end of the piston-carrying shaft and penetrate into the bearings 40 and into the'spacebetween the hub 41 and the peripheral portion 95 of the piston and also into the `slot 95, which receives the blade 15.

The lubricating medium, heretofore mentioned, is introduced at a pressure in excess of the maximum pressure occurring inl the work medium, but I prefer to maintain the pressure of the sealing medium at approximately ilve to ten percent greater than the maximum pressure in the work medium, since I und that an undue excess in' lubricant pressure results in substantial lee of the sealing medium into the work space 3i nated. leakage past the side edges of the blade during the periods when the work medium is in the work space at inlet pressure. Undue leakage of the sealing medium in this fashion impairs the emciency of the device. I find that a sealing medium applied in the foregoing manner, atv a pressure of the order of five to teu percent greater "than the maximum pressure occurring in the work medium.- effectively seals the machine againstl high pressure leakage. Thel exact pressure to be maintained in order to promote the maximum eiiiciency may vary within the indicatedl limits and the saine results may be obtained-by adjusting'theoil pressure with respectto the discharge pressure at which the conri'pressorI is `operating in order to maintain the oil within the indicated limits. For convenience, the lubricant pressure control maybe set to deliver'oil at an excess pressure of live pounds if the compressor is discharging at a pressure between 50 and 100 pounds per square inch, the oil pressure control mechanism being set to deliver ten pounds excess oil pressure if the compressor is in operation to .deliver the work` medium at a pressure between 100 and 200 pounds per square inch. The oil pressure controly mechanism may be set to deliver oil at twenty pounds excess pressure when the compressor is operated at a'discharge pressure of over 200 pounds. 'Ihese figures are, of course,

strictly empirical but serve to define the approxi--` mate relationship between excess oil pressure and delivery pressure for maximum efficiency.

` The sealing effect, thus accomplished, is better than is accomplished where the sealing medium is introduced at a pressure equal to or less than the maximum pressure in the work medium: in fact, I nd that, Where the sealing medium is introduced at a pressure equal to or slightly less than the maximum pressure developed in the work medium, the sealing effect is little, if any, better than that accomplished by the normal fit of the parts supplied with an adequate lubrication. In other words, the application of the sealing medium at a pressure greater than the maximum pressure and the piston i3, I may provide a by-pass con-Y nection |33 between the inlet and outlet conduits |25 and |29. This connection includes a control valve |35, which, when fully open, permits the pump |21 to by-pass thesealing and lubricating medium directly to the reservoir |2| so that substantially none of the sealing medium will be delivered through the ducts ||5 and i1 to the operating parts of the compressor. As the valve |35 is closed, the pressure and volume of the sealing medium, delivered to the compressor, will inexpected beneficial sealing effect and permits the provision of devices of unusual efficiency and capacity.

In rotary compressors, embodying this feature, I have been able to develop amazing pressures considerably in excess of two hundred pounds with aV machine operating at full capacity of 8.5 cubic feet with barely noticeable decrease in overall efiiciency. I have also been able to operate the device as an exhaust pump of corresponding efficiency and performance. I prefer to operate the machine at as high a rate of speed as possible, since leakage of the sealing medium in the work space is a function of speed, it being obvious that more oil will leak betweeen the` contacting surfaces of the rotor and the end plates at low speed.

I prefer to cause the sealing and lubricating medium to circulate within the piston and cylinspeed than at highV der in order that the same may lubricate the bearings 49 and 63 as well as all of the operating parts of the mechanism. I also prefer to apply the sealing and lubricating medium from an external source comprising a reservoir I2|, although, of course, the lubricant may be circulated, if desired, from a source and by means of instrumentalities contained within the casing l5.

In any event, suitable conduit means, comprising, in the illustrated embodiment, a return duct |23 and a duct |25, is provided for returning the lubricating medium from within thecylinder to 'the reservoir |2|. corporated in the compressor, if desired, or formed separately, as shown, is utilized to draw the lubriv eating and sealing medium from the reservoir A pumpv |21. which may be in- |2| and deliver the same, as through a pipe |23.

at a tdesired pressure into the inlet ducts ||5 and' "'refilcientfrelatively low operating temperature.

To control the pressure, at which the lubri- 'catingmedium is introduced into the cylinder I| crease to the maximum deliverypressure of the pump |21 when the valve |35 is completely closed.

As heretofore described, the cylinder` is rotata-- bly supported by its end plate 51 on the sleevelike casing portion 31. The other end plate 55 of the cylinder is also rotatingly mounted on the frame or casing, said end plate carrying a shaft |4| extending outwardly thereof in axial align-A mentwith the axle of the cylinder. To this end, the end plate 55 is preferably formed with a seat |31 adapted to receive a flanged end-|39 of the shaft |4|, said flanged end being fastened in place in the seat in any suitable fashion and preferably by means of the fastening studs |43. The shaft |4|, therefore, defines the axis |1, about which the cylinder is designed to rotate. The' shaft |4| is supported by the cover 29 of the casing, said shaft extending through an opening |45 in the cover and being journalled in a suitable,

preferably anti-friction, bearing |41, which is carried in a seat |49 formed in the outer surface of the cover 29. 'I'he shaft also preferably carries a tapered sleeve |5| press fitted thereon to receive 'the correspondingly tapered race of the anti-friction bearing, which is retained in position by means of 'a nut |53 threaded upon the tapered sleeve |5|. An annular seal ring |55 is also provided and encircles .the shaft, seating upon the cover 29 at theopening |45 to aid in preventing the escape of the compressed work medium from within the casing |5 along the shaft 15, the seal ring |55 being yieldingly urged to seating position by means of a spring |51, which also encircles the shaft and extends between the seal ring andthe facing end of the sleeve |5|. y

The bearing |41 is enclosed in a cover element |59 of generally cylindrical configuration, one end of which is flared outwardlly and flanged as at |3| to provide means whereby the cover member |59 may be secured upon the casing member 29 a's bymeans of the fastening screws |53. The sleeve-like cover member |59 is provided with a pair of spaced apart partitions |65 and |51 dening a bearing-enclosing compart- 'ment |39 in .the flared end of the same, an inters mediate compartment |1| between the partitions |55 and |81 vand an open ended compartment |13 in the outer end of the element |59. The shaft |4| extends through openings in the partitions |55 and |51 and contains an axial cha'nnel |15 having a radial opening |11 communicating the channel with the interior of The channel |15 extends to and opens at the flanged end ofthe shaft which `is secured 4to the end plate 55, vsaid end plate having a radially extending channel |19 formed therein and opening at one end in'communication with the inner end of the shaft channel |15. The outer end' of the radial channelv |19 opens on the inner face of the end plate 55 opposite the ringl 53. and is connected with the cylinder inlet port 19 by means of a duct |8 formed in the ring 53. v

It will be noted that, since the ring, the end plate, and the shaft |4| are all clamped together, there is no chance of leakage tov or from the low pressure side of the compressor at any point in the inlet ducts |15, |19, and IBI.

Fluid medium for compression is-introduced into the chamber |1| through an opening |93 in the walls of the element |59, penetrates thence through the opening |11, into the shaft duct |15, and thence through theradial duct |19 and the inlet port 1,19 into the compression cylinder, whence,` after compression, the work medium is expelled through the valved outlet port 8| into the interior of the housing I5, from whence the compressed medium may be drained off through an opening |95 formed inthe walls of the casing.

The shaft opening in the partitions |65 and |61, dening the inlet compartment |1|, are

preferably sealed by means of annular seal rings. To this end, a seal ring |91 encircles the shaft within the bearing compartment |69 and is urged to sealingly seat upon the wall |61 around the shaft opening thereof by means of a spring |89,

also encircling the shaft and engaging at its'- opposite ends respectively with the seal ring |91 and the facing end of the sleeve |5|.

' The outer end of the compartment |19 is preferably closed by a capping element |9| secured, as by means of the fastening studs |93, upon the outer end of the element |59. 'I'he capping element |9| `comprises a4 wail portion containing 'an opening, through which the shaft I lli extends. Seal rings |95, which encircle the shaft portion between the wall perforated wall portion of the capping element, are urged apart by means rof the spring |91 so Ithat the annular seal rings seat one upon the wall |65 around theshaft opening therein, and the other on the wall portion.' of the capping element at the shaft opening therein.

The capping element |9| has a cup-shaped portion |99 containing a bearing 20|, which is held in place by means of a threaded collar 209 and a cover plate 205 .is secured on the cupshaped portion |99 in any suitable fashion as by means of the studs 201. The cover 205 preferably embodies an oil-retaining shaft seal 299, and means, comprising an opening 2| is provided to afford lubrication for the bearing 20|.

Any suitable means may be employed to deliver a suitable lubricating medium in the chamber |69 and |19 for the purpose of lubricating the seals |55, |81, and |95, as well as the bearing |41. To this end, in the illustratedembodiment, theelement |59 is formed -with oil inlet ing from the spirit ally high pressures and Apparatus, having in combinationthe'various features herein described, is well adapted for the high compression' of gaseous or other work media and yI have been successful in maintaining unusulow vacuums after many hundreds of hours of operation, usingv devices embodying the features herein described. I know of no rotary structure extant capable either of producing'pressures in work medium comparable to the performance of devices embodying my present invention, or of maintaining such pressures over a long operating life. Devices embodying the present invention do not require unusual accuracy in manufacture and, in operation, are so well sealed that high pressure leakage is practically eliminated, thus permitting the development of exceptionally high discharge pressures as well as low vacuums. capable of adjustment to ensure satisfactory operation throughout their operating life, regardless or' wear.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in fthe form,

construction, and arrangement of the several parts of the illustrated apparatus without departor scope of my invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the preferred modes and forms herein described being merely forthe purpose of illustrating the invention. s

Having thus described my invention, what I A claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent lis as follows:

means to deliver a liquid sealing medium between the engaging surfaces of the elements at a presopenings 2|3, communicating with the chambers|69 and |13 and outletv openings 2|5 from ing I5. may be formed with internal chambers 2|1, -each of said internal chambers being formed with an inlet 2I9 and an outlet 22| whereby a suitable cooling medium, such as watermay be circulated through the chambers inorder to ab- -stract the heat of compression from the gases l sure greater than the maximum pressure developed in a fluid work medium in the work space,

and adjustable means to regulate the pressure at which the sealing medium is so delivered.

' 2. A rotary gas pressure device comprising a cylinder element and a cooperating piston element movably mounted eccentrlcally and tangentially to the inner surface of the cylinder and defining lwith the cylinder element a work space within the cylinder element, said elements having engageable relatively shiftable lworking surfaces, and adjustable means to deliver a liquid sealing medium between the engaging surfaces of the elements whereby a pressure approximately ten per cent in excess of the maximum pressure developed in a fluid work mf'iium within said work space may be maintained, in order to prevent escape of the work medium from the work space between the engaging surfaces of the elements.

WILLIAM W. WIVSHART.

Such devices, moreover, are f pressure device comprising a l 

